The Holy Prostitute

fairs Compound of Ibenga. The compound lay one and a half

f the road before reaching the residential area. It was a

helma's father had invested in the little building before he died of tuberculosis. He was survived by his only daughter and wife. Three meters in front of the house was a hut that served as a kitche

d two and a half hours after the church service. The woman observed the dejected girl walk into the

ith a 'z' shaped line of end-to-end planks inside. From inside, people

wo white plates covered by similar ones that afternoon. The floor had a pot hole near the door and another at the entrance of the

nearest the door. Anxious to know how the exorcising her of the spi

man of God. His God is living. Nothing is impossible to h

it needs more attention and that spiritual husbands usually return if there is

is miracles. Even you have seen so many people with various problems get healed in that church after being prayed for by the

a wedding in the spiritual world between her and that particular spirit? Wh

ater and small red plastic basin for the distraught girl to wash her hands

uth, Grace knocked at the door and burst in excitedly. There was no time to

u had a long prayer. How many people were there

he two of us",

" Grace asked a

at the nshima with beans also. However, Grace granted and shook her head before a swal

stand that pastor even if I have a so called spirit

discerned. You will not understand. Some mysteries are bette

is the meaning of touching like what you yourself witnessed in church? Let me tell you that he did more than what you s

Bible prayers were held like that

asts?" interr

ppened there? Are you free of t

id in hi...hi...his bed...I do not underst

hat is a man of God. Do not start to say

to you. The spirit is lis

ladies suddenly stopped talking. They just looked at the food on the

I did not see her at church

ed now under the care of my sister, Ethel.

wer

tomorrow," said Mon

thirteen. Monica's and Sala's husbands were fifteen and sixteen respectively at the time of marriage. Their friendship thrived even when they were married. Both of the women became vegetable sellers at the Ibenga market before their husbands died. Sala's husband, Greg, died after a series of long illnesses, which local people

a saw her friend off for a short distance, so th

d indeed. I do not understand that. Tell me Thelma, do

just dream of ordinary things you and I do together. For exam

, Lusaka. We surely would be lost for good there in the big city. It

any being even at night that claims to be my husband. The whole spiritual husband drama is confusing,

itual husband. Then he was guided by the spirit again to get rid of that thing. Did you want him to avoid telling you that you have a problem? That is his job of a man

I do not feel anything on my body as being done to me by the so called husband. I do not hear anything about the so called spiritual husband either. By th

nds are I think. It is prophets who detect them with the power of God. Ordinary people, including vi

the pastor could touch Thelma on the breasts in church, what else did he feel when they were alone? How would one tell that the spiritual husband had been chased? What wrong had Thelma committed to be subjected to such

reature? Why would the pastor not exorcise her of the spirit instantly right there in the congregation?

ey were deep in that prayer. If closed, what could be the reason? Did the pastor need priva

ed by a curtain as bedroom and sitting room. Three 20 liter plastic containers served as chairs on the colored floor. The door was made of old planks that had roughly be

ow is Thelma? " asked Ethel, he

face was brown with an innocent beautiful smile. Her hair was long and always meticulously combed. Her

e replied while wal

as dreadful. Why out of all the people did the so called spiritual husband choose her? Was she a horrible sinner

marry? If she married someone, what would the evil spirit do to that man? Would her marriag

d on the roof, she shuddered, thinking it was the arrival of her spiritual husband at last. She thought

ment-overloaded truck .There was a thin mattress on the wooden bed. The mattress had be

g church service tortured her. She remembered how the pastor had first touched her breasts and prayed. She vividly remembered how she had nervously walked to t